A military police officer on the verge of a new beginning. A beautiful woman devoted to her career and her dream of putting down roots. The hardest thing they’ll ever do is to take a chance on love . . .Navy Chief Master at Arms Jackson “Jax” Faraday is at a crossroads. He has to decide whether to reenlist or get out while he’s young enough to make a difference in the civilian world. Either choice could mean leaving behind his girl: his K-9 partner, Bella. But when she’s injured during a training session, Jax’s only concern is making sure she’s okay.As the Navy base veterinarian, town local Risa Reynolds is right where she belongs: close to her parents in a farmhouse full of animals—with room to grow. She’s seen enough to put military men are on her “not happening” list, because they always leave.But when a tall, hazel-eyed sailor arrives in her clinic with his dog in his arms, Risa finds herself falling hard. And all kinds of rules will get broken when Jax, a man who sticks to the straight and narrow, learns that there’s no predicting the twists and turns of the heart . . .

Jackson Faraday was worried about his girl.He should have been worried about his future. Time was running out forhimtomakeadecision—stayintheNavyorgetout—andthedetailer was breathing down his neck. But the decision to throw away the past twelve years wasn’teasy.He wanted more.If NCIS—Naval Criminal Investigative Service—would make a decisiononhisapplication,thatwouldbegreat.Butwhatiftheyturnedhimdown? Did he stay in for twenty years and retire? Then what? Start over at the bottom? Go home to a one-stoplight town with a police force that spent allitstimedealingwithboredteenswreakinghavocorfrustratedcouples fighting?Worksecurityforoneofthenearbycasinos?Allviableoptions, just not what hewanted.He wanted to make a difference.Heshovedawaythenaggingquestions.Hehadmorepressingconcerns. LikewhatwaswrongwithBella,whichwaswhyhewasatthebasetraining center, even though his shift was officiallyover.“Come on, Bella. Give me your best for an hour, and then I’ve got a treat for you.” He wagged the Frisbee to get her attention. Instead, Bella whined and flicked her ear.“Hey, Jax. Heard we had a win in the courtroom today.” Chief Casey Thomas drove his Jeep up next to the chain-link fence.“Stone?Yeah,he’sgoingawayforagoodcoupleofyearsforthatlittle video stunt of his. Not that it makes up for what he put Lieutenant Riley through, butit’sastart.”“Meandacoupleoftheguysaregoingtograbsomegrubandheadout tothebeach.Enjoywhat’sleftofsummer.Comejoinus.”Caseydrummed hisfingersontheoutsideofthedriver’sdoor,givingawayhehadmoreon his mind than a night’scelebration.“What’s up with you, man?Youseem agitated.” He andCaseywentback a ways; spent some time in the sandbox together. Normallytheguy wasaseasygoingascoolbeerslippingdownyourthroatonasummerday.“Gotmyordersintoday.”Caseyslidoutofthevehicleandwalkedthrough the gate. “I’m heading to Pensacola.” “Isn’t your ex-wife there?”“Nearenough.”CaseysquatteddownandscratchedBella’sears.“Did you hear back on your application yet?”“You know what they say: No news is good news.” At least he hoped that’s what it meant.“Youknow what you need?Tofind a nice lady who can take some of your stress away and make you forget your worries.”“The only lady I need in my life is Belladonna.” “She’s a little hairy and full of attitude.”“Aw,butyouforget.Shelovesmeunconditionallyandalwayshasmysix.”“Not lately.” Casey stood and looked out at the obstaclecourse.“The newhandlerhadheroutthismorning,runningherthroughbasiccommands,andsheignoredthemall.Iknowyoutwohaveatightbond,especiallyaftertwo tours, but you’re leaving soon.She’sgot to get used tonewpeople.” Bellahadbeenmorethanhispartnerwhiledeployed;she’dbeenhis anchor,hispillarofstrength,hisconfidant,andhishopewhenallseemedlost. She wasn’t just his K-9 partner. She was his family, and theideaof leavingherwasrippinghimapartinside.Chanceswereshecouldsensehis mood and the turmoil going on inside.“Which is why I’m passing on youroffer.”Jax released the German shepherd’sleash.“ThoughtI’ddosomespecialone-on-onetrainingwith her and see how it goes. Find out ifit’sthe new guy orher.”“Shewouldn’tbethefirstdogtoburnout.”Caseylookeddownatthe dog, who hadn’t moved. “Of course, ifshe’sdeclared unfit forduty,you could adopther.But then, what would you do with her while you’re in Glynco for NCIStraining?”Jax dropped the leash and Frisbee on top of his backpack and looked into the brilliant blue sky. He’d been playing the “what if” game for two months now with no answers in sight.“Let’s deal with one problem at a time.”“If you change your mind about tonight, you know where to find us.” Casey waved as he hopped back into his Jeep and drove off.Jax squatted down and ran his hand down Bella’s back. “Okay girl,let’sgettheworkoversowecanplay.”Truthfully,everythingtheydidwas work. The game of Frisbee honed thedog’sspeed, agility, and tracking ability just as much as anything else they did. She simply liked it better than the obstacle course. Not that Jax blamedher.Jax stood up and gave the hand signal for sit.The dog looked at him, then closed her eyes with a deep sigh. “Bella, sit,” he commanded.She rolled over onto her side and laid her paw across her nose. Casey really nailed it with his description. The dog was full of attitude—bad attitude—and a military working dog that didn’t follow orders was of no use to the service.Jaxwentthroughthecommandsagainandagain,gettingnoresponse. The two of them had worked together for almost six years, since Bella’s first assignment, and she’d transferred with him from the Middle East to the Sub base. In all that time, she’d never ignored an order from him. He bent back down and gave her a cursory inspection, but he didn’t findany obviousreasonforthedogtobalk.Concerned,Jaxsatdownontheground next to hispartner.“Bellagirl,talktome.What’sgoingoninthatbrainofyours?Isitthe heat?Don’tyoulikethenewguy?Tiredofthesameoldroutine?Trustme, I’d understand if that was the problem. Maybe we should call it a night, and tomorrow go see Doc and make sure you’reokay.”Bella scooted closer and laid her head on Jax’s lap, her tail thumping in the grass.“Yougottabeokay,girl.”Absently,hescratchedbehindherearsashe thoughtofthepastsixyears.“Idon’tthinkIcouldhandleitifwe’dcome this far and something happened toyou.”JaxleanedforwardandpickeduptheFrisbee.Ashetalkedaboutnothing tothedog,hetossedthetoyupandcaughtit,makingnodemandsonBella. Pretty soon she was sitting, her gaze following thedisc.“Ah ha.Okay,I get it. There are times when I don’t feel like workingeither.I’llmakeadealwithyou.Fiveminutesofplayandthenalaparound the course.Deal?”Bella barked in response.Jaxlaughedandjumpedtohisfeet,relievedtoseeherrespondlikeher oldself.HethrewtheFrisbee,andBellatookoffatthespeedoflight.She caught the disc and returnedit.They repeated it again and again.“Okay, last one and then we work.” Jax threw it with all his strength. The disc flew up. Bella chased, but instead of running straight across thelawn,sheranupthestairsofthedogwalk.Whenshegottothetop,shejumpedandcaughtthediscinhermouth.Butasshecamedown,shetwisted.Thescenebeforehimunfoldedinslowmotion.Heran,reachingforBella.Almostthere.Hedovetocatchherbutitwastoolate.Bellacrashed tothegroundacoupleoffeetinfrontofhim,lettingoutayelpthatmadeJax’s stomach cramp. He crawled to her side.ThankGodshewasbreathing.Heranhishandsoverherbody.Nothing protruded and there was no blood, but she wascrying.Carefully, Jax scooped her up and ran for his truck. “Hang on, baby.Everything’s going to be okay.”And he prayed like he hadn’t done since his last night in the desert. Just likenow,Bella had been at his side and they’d been pinned downby enemy fire. He’d prayed that night that they’d make it home alive and in one piece. He prayed now that his dog would live, because even though she technically belonged to the U.S.Navy,she was the love of hislife.

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Gail Chianese's love of reading began at the tender age of three, when she'd make her grandpa read Fourteen Country Rabbits over and over and over again (and correct him when he skipped parts). While she's branched out over the years by reading mystery, women’s fiction, and urban fantasy, she always circles back to romance in the end. That's probably because she's married to her real life hero. Her wonderful hubby has served in the US Navy for the past twenty two years and he’s done things he can’t tell her about. But it doesn’t stop her from being extremely proud of him and the sacrifices he makes for her, his family, and his country. He’s also uber-supportive of her dreams and of their three children. Living in Mystic, CT and a member of Connecticut Romance Writers of America, Gail loves to hear from readers.